William
Andrew Dillard
A DEADLY SIN
Parson
to Person
Warning
the church of the Living God at Corinth, the beloved Apostle Paul
called attention to the terrible failures of Israel in the wilderness
wanderings. In I Cor. 10:4, he recalls a most intriguing and
interesting phenomenon. A certain Rock appeared wherever the Hebrews
made camp, as though it were (because it was) following them. Now
this was not an ordinary rock. Paul calls it a spiritual rock.
Doubtless it appeared as a large hunk of stone to the Hebrews, but
something was very different about this rock. It’s story begins
early in the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. It is first mentioned in
Exodus 17:5-7. Moses was instructed to smite the rock which would
produce water in abundance for the people.
Since that
spiritual rock followed them, it is not known how many appearances it
made or how many times the Hebrews took special note of it, or how
many times they may have depended upon it for life sustaining water.
But, it comes into significant play some forty years later as water
was desperately needed, and the Hebrews were complaining because
there was none. God’s instruction to Moses now was different: “Take
the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy
brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall
give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of
the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts
drink.” Num. 20:8.
Most who are passingly familiar with the
Bible know Moses and Aaron did not follow God’s instructions, but
in frustration with the people smote the rock twice. Yes, life giving
water flowed, but God was not sanctified in the eyes of the people,
and it cost Aaron and Moses their life.
That rock was not
Jesus, but it was anointed (Christ is a Greek word that means
anointed in English) of God to typify mighty things about Jesus. It
showed among other things, God’s protection, solidarity, presence,
and sustainment of life. What God has to give mankind is freely
offered in Jesus, the Christ. He willingly died to give to all the
water of everlasting life. He is with His people and will never
forsake them: He is there! He never changes! Either He is one’s
life into the age of the ages, or that life shall be forfeited. Being
once smitten, He will not be smitten again, but forgives all who call
upon Him in repentance and faith.
The recipients of His
righteous blood’s cleansing that flowed from the smitten Anointed
One commit a similar sin as Moses and Aaron when they claim they have
become lost, and now must return to the Rock for a washing in His
blood the second time. He will not be smitten again, but he may be
spoken to in prayer and….”if we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 Hallelujah! What a Rock is our Savior!
Will you clarify this statement Bro. Dillard:
The recipients of His righteous blood’s cleansing that flowed from the smitten Anointed One commit a similar sin as Moses and Aaron when they claim they have become lost, and now must return to the Rock for a washing in His blood the second time
LikeLiked by 1 person